Annals of the Keepers - Rage

by Christiaan Hile

There was a good amount of blood splattered on the ground near the cart. The amount and linear trail indicated a laceration, she thought.

  She backed up towards the lift, following the blood.

  She knew the captain had gone down the elevator.

  Before she got on the lift to descend into the complex, she noticed a large rectangular vent along the wall next to the elevator entrance.

  This shaft was about a meter and a half tall and half a meter wide.

  She could feel a slight breeze blowing through.

  She knelt and focused her flashlight on the vent.

  Her light shined, disappearing into the blackness, unable to see how far the vent went.

  A chill went up the back of her neck.

  This was an access shaft, not an air shaft.

  The bassor wolves entered her mind.

  She made her way to the lift, activated it, and lowered down into the granite rock of the mountain, not wanting to wait and see if they were still around.

  ∞∞∞

  A shallow voice emanated from a shadowed room.

  The only light was from a holo-image on a table in the center of this otherwise dark area.

  On the table there was a long, large container.

  A figure stood before it.

  “The device is secure. I just need to get it off planet,” Captain Ronclar said.

  The holo-image before the captain undulated in a warped encrypted static.

  The voice that responded was neither male nor female but a robotic monotone, “The Gashnee device needs to be back on Mydian soon, captain. There isn’t much time.”

  The captain was nervous, his speech quick and high. “It will be there in a couple months. I have a plan, but—”

  “But what, captain?”

  “I don’t know what to say to the director if she questions…and she will question me.”

  “That’s simple. Just tell her you’re looking for artifacts. This is your secondary mission parameter for the Keeper Adytum, is it not?”

  “Yeah…yes…that could work. She could believe that.”

  “She will believe that, captain, for that is the truth.”

  “But what if she doesn’t? What if she questions why I launched the facility’s cargo ship?”

  “I can guarantee you, captain, they won’t,” The scrambled voice said with confidence.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am certain. Trust me, captain. They won’t question you. Your secret will be safe. I’ve left nothing to chance.”

  A sound echoed from behind the secretive pair.

  Ronclar flinched and spun around to look.

  There was nothing but darkness.

  ∞∞∞

  Shawna exited the lift.

  The hallway before her was pitch-black.

  She shined her light about the walls, looking for a light activator. There were none.

  She could see at one end of the hall, another light radiating from a room.

  Shawna headed in its direction, glanced behind her, and continued to follow her beam of light into the blackness before her.

  As she made the end of the hall, she switched her own light off, getting a glimpse of the light source within.

  She could make out the silhouette of Captain Ronclar near a table. The light came from atop a container in the center.

  Two low voices overlapped, as if having a conversation.

  She couldn’t make the other one out, but she did recognize one.

  “Captain?”

  The light blinked out, showering the room in total darkness.

  Shawna brought her light upon the captain as she approached.

  Other lights popped on above the table in a ringed suspended fixture.

  “You startled me, Shawna.”

  “I startled you? What are you doing here? You had me worried.”

  The captain closed the container before turning around to face her. “Sorry about that. I thought I would make a quick stop and see what artifacts were here.”

  “I didn’t know where you were. No one did. I saw blood on the way in. You need to let me know what is going on here.”

  The captain looked down at his bandaged hand. “Oh, sorry. I just cut it on the sled when I got off. It’s nothing.”

  “How would I have known you weren’t injured or killed?” She shook her head in disappointment.

  Shawna walked up to the table and the case which lay upon it. “These things are not our primary mission. The search for artifacts is to begin after we have completed our first year here and assessed Earth’s status, at least near the landing site.” She turned back to the captain. “And who were you speaking to?” She queried.

  “No one. I was talking to myself. All these ancient Earth artifacts are fascinating. I guess I got ahead of our mission parameters. I’m sorry, Shawna.”

  “We need to focus on the planet, first. But, while we’re here, we should at least get the field stations brought online. Can you handle that?”

  He smiled at her. “I’ll just put these things away and meet you back at base once I’ve activated and brought the towers online.”

  Shawna sighed and left the captain to himself. Now that she had no need to worry, she had no time to be patient either. “Please communicate with me next time, captain.”

  She knew she needn’t be babysitting anyone on this mission, let alone the captain of all people.

  Making her way back up the lift, she made her way back through the darkened tunnel towards the entrance of the old complex.

  Data Cell 8

  Droe Temin approached the chamber hallway of the Assembly Mount.

  She was off-duty and had been called by her father, the Assembly Leader Mordon Tallis, for lunch.

  She hadn’t been called for a personal meeting in some time, as she knew they differed in their political views and ideologies.

  This should be interesting, she thought.

  The Assembly was empty as she entered.

  Droe made her way through to the main chamber. It was dark and silent.

  She continued through, passing the podium and the seats of the governing members for the colony of mankind.

  The new Great Symbol of Justice hung along the stone wall in the shadows with light coming from the open exit doors to the vast room highlighting its embossed features and leaving the spaces in darkness.

  She found the other side and headed down a hallway to the decision chamber for the Mount, where members would meet to discuss precepts to be voted on.

  Her father wanted to meet her here before going to lunch; to have a father-daughter talk, so he’d said.

  She waited by the large window that ran down the entire length of the walkway, peering out to the chamber gardens outside.

  No one was on the grounds.

  It felt as if she was trespassing.

  At least the gardens were peaceful.

  She remembered walking with her father there, her hand in his, when she was a little girl.

  She loved the pools of water flowing and falling over the rock steps, leading into the center lake before launching high into the air by great fountains, arcing skyward and cascading back down.

  She could stare at them all day, just as she had when she was a child.

  Droe looked about the hallway when she noticed the decision room door at the end was ajar.

  Walking over, she peered into the darkened chamber.

  Pushing the door more open, she entered.

  The auto-illumination didn’t come on.

  It was dark enough to be difficult for her to make out the large table and chairs in the center of the room until her eyes adjusted to the low light.

  As she was about to back out, she heard voices from a deeper room from the one she stood in.

  “Father?” she called out.

  There was no answer.

  She ventured farther into the room. Towards the back, she could make out another hallway.

  A glow was radiating from do
wn the corridor.

  The voices grew as she got closer, but she couldn’t quite make them out.

  She could now see a door was open down the hall.

  The light was coming from within the room.

  She normally wasn’t nosey, but her curiosity was definitely piqued.

  She approached and peered in.

  A tall sculpture was centered in the room. The light was coming from a holo-image on the far side, beyond the statuette, near a table.

  She couldn’t make it out, but the hologram looked like a face.

  She heard a female voice speaking.

  Moving forward, Droe’s foot bumped a short table near the door.

  The voices stopped and the holo-image blinked out.

  She backed out of the room and made her way through the decision room towards the main hallway outside.

  Glancing back, she waited to see if the voice and the figure it belonged to in the darkened room would follow.

  She turned the corner from the decision room into the hall when she bumped into her father, Mordon Tallis.

  Droe jumped back, startled. Tallis merely halted his step and looked at her, eyebrow raised.

  “I’m sorry, my dear,” he said. “What are you doing here in the dark?”

  Droe cleared her throat. “I was looking for you.”

  Her father walked over to a wall and waved his hand over a data pad.

  The lights in the room came on.

  Assemblywoman Qurinden came from the other room, her fluid steps in contrast with her mechanical face were hidden under flowing robes.

  Droe looked back at her evenly, saying nothing.

  “Kayleon. What are you doing here?” Tallis asked.

  “I was coming to see what the commotion was. I heard a noise.”

  Droe looked back at her father. “I thought I heard you in here so I looked in the room.”

  Tallis continued in a casual tone, “Are you with anyone else, Kayleon?”

  “No. I was just speaking to a friend, that’s all,” the red-eyed Assemblywomen sighed.

  “I see,” Tallis said. “We were just going to lunch, Droe and I. Maybe you would like to join us?” He smiled at his associate.

  “No thank you, Mordon. I have over duties to attend to. Another time?”

  “Yes, Kayleon. We bid you a beautiful day.”

  The cyborg Assemblywoman nodded. “The same to the both of you.” She made her way out of the room and down the hallway.

  Tallis turned to his daughter. “So, shall we have lunch at our favorite place under the Oculus Terrace?”

  Droe put on an uneasy smile. “That would be fine.”

  “Great.” He pointed with his arm out. “After you then.”

  The two exited the chamber on their way to lunch.

  ∞∞∞

  Both father and daughter walked along the hallway of with long windows, overlooking the Assembly Mount gardens as they came to the large Oculus Terrace.

  The arched and vaulted stone cover graced the skyline above the terrace grounds. The large opening in the stone canopy above gave way to a grand viewing of the Janus midday sky.

  The flat stone of the terrace floor overlooked the Assembly Mount gardens of green belts and waterfalls.

  Crystal skyscrapers dotted the horizon of the city of Evoke, beyond the beautiful landscape before Droe Temin.

  Trans-track tubes ran above the streets and twisted amongst the stone and crystal horizon.

  Droe could see transport ships leaving their berths for orbit as the city activity continued its daily operations.

  They approached the terrace.

  Glass tables with dark sofas greeted the patrons of the LaSarrange Outdoor Eatery.

  The natural use of the landscape resources made for an exquisite setting among the three governing structures.

  Mordon Tallis and Droe Temin, different in more ways than their uniforms could ever indicate, made their way to a table under the shade of a large overhang.

  Droe sat down with her father opposite.

  The edge of the glass table near Droe beeped and flashed a small green light.

  Her wrist unit flashed a response, synchronizing with the host computer, followed by a voice.

  [Welcome back Lieutenant Commander Temin. Would you like your personal menu displayed?]

  “Yes please,” Droe replied.

  The holo-image appeared through the glass to her front.

  The table host was also setting up the Mount Leader’s personal preferences on his side of the table.

  Droe broke the silence first, “I haven’t been here with you in some time. What’s the occasion?”

  Tallis chuckled, “No occasion. I just haven’t spent any time with you as of late. I thought it had been far too long.”

  “Eight years.”

  “How time flies.”

  Droe paused from browsing the menu and leaned back, crossing her arms. “So. Why did you bring me here?”

  “You always were blunt.”

  A hover-waiter set drinks down on the table.

  Droe just smiled, waiting.

  Tallis took a drink, then continued, “You really would have made a perfect stateswoman.”

  “If I cared about debating law, I would have.” Releasing one arm, she selected her item from her projected menu then waived it down to close it, then left her hand on the table and clicked her fingers on the glass. “You can’t let that go, can you?”

  “I am persistent in my stance,” Tallis harrumphed.

  “So, let me guess why you called this lunch.” Droe tilted her head as she looked over at her father. “You’re curious about the Gashnee just as Kayleon is, correct?”

  Tallis waved a hand at the air. “No, not at all. That’s one of Kayleon’s passions, ancient races. She just thought she could get on the commander’s personal side by assisting with her own theories on the matter, nothing more. We now see where that got her.”

  “She wasn’t invited to the briefing. Parejas had every right to dismiss her visit.”

  “Of course, he did. It seems Parejas dismisses anything not directly benefitting his goals. It doesn’t surprise me.”

  Droe body language was showing her agitattion with her father’s comments towards the commander. “So why did you bring me here? I know it’s not to catch up on my life or anything so simple.”

  Tallis placed his hands together as he leaned back in his chair. “I brought you here for your support, my dear.”

  “I figured. Support for what?”

  The Assemblyman smiled. “The Precept to remove martial law from the colony.”

  Droe’s face tensed. “And why would I do that?”

  “I thought you would be more, let’s say, level-headed than the commander.”

  Droe smirked. “I see. You want the commander’s vote, so you’re trying to garner my support to sway him. Do I have that correct, Assemblyman?”

  “We know Parejas’ stance on the lifting of martial law, but the time has come to allow the citizens of Janus to partake in this new trade environment we live in”

  “Parejas will never allow this.”

  “I know, but the people want it. I represent the people. Parejas protects the people. We both are like opposite hands that serve the same body. Though we are connected at different arms, are we not part of the same function? The time for the people to control and run their own lives has come.”

  Droe smiled and took a sip of her drink just as their food arrived.

  She shook her head regarding her father’s comments.

  The waiter unit placed their plates down, then hovered away.

  “So why do you think I would support the lifting of martial law when I agree we need it for the protection of the colony?”

  “Haven’t the people lived under it, not allowed to trade with outside races without Ordinance guidance and watchful eye?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s been far too long. Times have changed. We no longer live in
fear of the Kryth’s annihilation of our race.”

  “You spin it so well. We are not that safe. The Kryth still seek our demise, but you wouldn’t know or care to admit it since you’re a politician.”

  Tallis laughed. “Yes, I am a politician. But, I do know that our presence has garnered the attention of many races hostile to the Kryth that now seek our alliance.” Tallis took a bite of his pasta. “You see, my dear, we have a chance to open trade routes with these races. We can seed friendships which will make us stronger, not weaker, and gain allies to stand with us against the Kryth.”

  “That easy, huh?” Droe remarked at what she thought to be a ridiculous comment from her father.

  “Well, yes. But first, martial law must be lifted.”

  “Again, why would I support such a Precept or even try and have the commander vote for it?”

  “I would think first, not for my sake, but that of your close friend, Natala and her family.”

  Droe’s shoulders stiffened and her descending fork froze.

  She sat up and placed her fork alongside her plate. “Why’s that?”

  Tallis leaned forward. “Doesn’t her family own and operate the Balas Mining facility? Don’t they build asteroid mining ships like the Mammoth class excavators?” He asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Are they not the biggest proponents of this Precept? Don’t they wish for their company and others to trade their ships and parts to other races in an open commerce environment?

  “That is their stance.”

  “No,” Tallis snapped, “That’s the stance of all families with businesses under the Ordinance’s martial thumb. You’ve even supported her at many events, but now you will stand in her way?”

  Droe narrowed her eyes on the man she called her father. “They know I support them, but they also understand my stance on this matter.”

  “You mean Parejas’ stance. It’s his stance that garners your support, isn’t it? You can’t speak for yourself unless his lips are moving.”

  “You don’t know what I stand for. You never have,” she spat her last words at the Assemblyman.

  Droe stood up and placed her napkin on her plate.

  “I’ve come across invertebrate life forms that have more backbone than you. You may want to go back to the school of debate and learn how to swing people to your side.”